Chapter Eighty-one

Big, flurries of thick, fluffy snowflakes floated and drifted in the air that day, darting around like they weighed nothing at all as Enid caught one on her arm, watching it slowly melt against the blue of her sleeve as she stood outside the longhouse. She sighed when it was gone, looking one last time at the people gathering outside and knowing that she didn't have much time left, so she quickly stepped inside, her hand reaching to unfasten her cloak, her eyes searching for a familiar face.

"Be careful," said a voice behind her. "There'll be a lot of drunk men tonight."

She turned, seeing that smile on his lips, watching as he leaned against the wall and tilted his head. "Where's Gro?" she asked.

"In the backrooms," Erik nodded towards the thrones. "She'll tell you what to do and, Enid… come find me if something happens. I meant it when I said that I don't want you to get hurt," he added, and Enid stared at him a moment, studying that light in his eyes and the way his face had gone somewhat tight, somewhat stiff and dark, and then she nodded, bundling her cloak up in her arms and turning to walk away. "You still have your knife?" he whispered.

"Yes."

"Don't be afraid to use it."

She nodded again and this time he didn't speak when she walked away, feeling that heaviness to the air, like the one that came before a big crack of lightning, one that promised to spark and catch at any moment as she pushed through the curtains, rolling her shoulders and stretching her muscles almost like she was readying for a fight.

"Enid!" Gro smiled, rushing to grab her hand and pull her further into the room. "Leave your things there, they'll be alright. I just need you to pour drinks tonight. The storeroom is back here, don't worry about running out. I don't want to see an empty cup anywhere," she beamed. "I won't have the gods thinking we're bad hosts! Think of it as practice. I want things to be even better at Erik's wedding," she nodded, and Enid couldn't help it, she smiled at the woman despite that heaviness in her heart, enjoying how Gro grinned and nodded and laughed just like she should've been all this time, and then Gro pulled Enid in close, whispering in her ear and saying, "Don't worry about the other thing. Only do it if you think it's safe. I don't want you getting in trouble because of me," she squeezed Enid's arm. "I've made it this far. I can survive another night."

There was something to way that Gro smile when she said that, something that tore Enid's heart, something that had Enid gritting her teeth and nodding. This woman deserved happiness, she deserved to feel safe and loved and be as happy as Enid was when Ivar held her, so Enid found herself nodding.

"Good," Gro beamed, squeezing Enid's arm one last time. "Bodil!" she shouted. "Come and meet Enid."

Enid turned then, seeing that young woman standing by the curtain, her long, thick braids falling past her waist, her white dress almost glowing in the dim candlelight as Bodil stared at her, her eyes like bright, clear ice and lingering on Enid's face.

"I've heard a lot about you, Enid," she said, and Enid nodded, not sure what to say, not sure that she would've wanted to hear all the things that Bodil must have, and then Bodil stepped closer, her fingers running through the fur of Enid's cloak on the table, her braids flicking over her shoulder as she turned to stare at Enid. "Do you love Erik?" she asked.

"No," Enid shook her head. "He was very kind to me, but I don't love him."

"So you just slept with him?"

Enid gritted her teeth, her shoulders going stiff as she fought the urge to take a step back, and then she bowed slightly, her hands clasping in front of her as she did. "I'm just a slave," she said. "I don't want or need for anything, but if I did, I'd want for you to have a good and happy life with Erik. Where I come from there's only place for a husband and wife in a marriage and that's what I believe in. I would never do anything to come between you. I hope you believe that."

Enid looked up then, seeing Bodil watching her, her hand still buried in Enid's cloak, and then Bodil laughed, a bright, loud laugh that almost made Enid jump.

"You're a strange one," Bodil said. "Don't make any mistakes tonight or I won't let you serve at my wedding."

Enid bowed again, tearing her eyes away from Bodil and staring at the floor and she was about to leave when that curtain pulled back and Ivar came in, Little Frigga resting against his chest.

"Oh, how is she today?" Gro asked.

"She just woke up," Ivar said, looking down as Frigga rubbed at her eyes, but then she started squirming, her face scrunching up in a wince, her hand reaching for Enid as those tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Come, 'Nig. No," she mumbled, her voice heavy with sleep.

"It's alright, Frigga.," Enid said, brushing the girl's hair back from her face and smoothing her cheeks.

"No," Frigga shook her head, grabbing onto Enid's hair and tugging sharply.

Enid couldn't help it, she yelped, both her and Ivar's hands reaching to try to pry Frigga's fingers free.

"Stop that, Frigga," Ivar said, but Frigga only pulled harder, crying and screaming as Ivar held her tighter.

"Let go, Frigga," Erik said, lifting the curtain and stepping in beside Ivar, and then he leaned his head closer, staring straight at Frigga over Ivar's arm, neither of their eyes blinking for a long while.

"Red," Frigga said.

"It is red," Erik nodded. "Now let it go."

So slowly those fingers uncurled, those eyes never leaving Erik's face, her cheeks dimming from red to pink. "Red, Erik," Frigga reached her finger to Erik's forehead. "Red," she said again, this time her face scrunching up in a wince, this time those tears streaming from her eyes as she cried and cried, and then Erik sighed, taking her from Ivar and heading down the corridor.

"I'll stay with her until she calms down," he said, and then he was gone.

Ivar watched him go, his face a dark, pained scowl, a scowl Enid wanted so desperately to wash away.

"Don't worry," Gro said. "She'll be safe with my children. They always have a guard and healer with them and they'll let us know if anything happens."